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Shelling in Florida is the perfect beach activity for an adventurous introvert like me who loves to explore coastal and island beaches. I’m a natural noticer and during my Florida adventures on the Gulf Coast, I’ve found that my keen observation skills are a great asset to seashell hunting.
Top Tips for Shelling in Florida
While I’m nowhere near an expert at finding seashells, I have had plenty of luck with shelling in Florida thanks to my observant nature. Here are five quick tips for beginner shell seekers from an adventurous introvert:
1. Go Where The People Aren’t
As an introvert, I’m always looking for the most secluded beaches to enjoy some solitude by the sea. The unexpected benefit of that as a shell seeker is that I usually find better seashells on these beaches since there are less people searching for shells in the same area.
My most unique treasures are usually found on uninhabited barrier islands, which are typically only accessible by boat. If you don’t have a boat, island shuttles or shelling tours are a good way to get access to these prime shelling spots.
2. Look Where the Waves are Stronger
Bigger waves and stronger tides will push more shells onto the beach. An ideal time to hunt for seashells is after a storm or strong winds. When I explore an island, I typically find the best shells at a tip of the island’s shore where waves are often breaking a bit more forcefully.
After a storm, go shelling in shallow tide pools – areas where the strong waves create sand mounds and depressions on the beach during higher-than-usual tides. Check for seashells hidden underneath piles of seaweed that the waves washed up too.
3. Get Your Feet Wet
I often find the best shells where the sand is wet. Here, the waves are continually washing new shells up onto the beach. Don’t be afraid to walk in the water. Go in ankle deep and dig a bit with your toes.
As you walk, look into the water below you. Sometimes I notice a bigger shell there when the waves aren’t strong enough to push larger shells up on the shore. Snorkeling for shells is great idea when the surf is flat.
For an introvert, the bonus of staying in the water is that you won’t have to awkwardly pass other beachcombers while walking on the shore.
4. Collect Responsibly When Shelling in Florida
Remember that what are treasures to us humans are homes for small sea creatures. When you pick up a seashell, the first thing you should do is inspect it to make sure there isn’t a live marine animal inside.
If you do find a sea creature inside, always return it gently to the sea. Walk it into the water a bit to help prevent it from washing up again. The chances of these creatures surviving on the beach in the sun and vulnerable to predators is low unless a tide comes in quickly to pull them back to deeper waters.
Also keep in mind that seashells are a vital part of marine ecosystems. Don’t take too many. Many animals depend on empty shells to survive. For example, hermit crabs must move to larger spiral shells as they grow. To help a hermit crab, consider returning some of the empty treasures you find to the ocean.
5. Take Your Time
Shelling is not for the hurried. Relax, stay mindful and allow your senses to guide you. I’ve honestly found that the less you try to find seashells, the more rewarding your time at the beach will be. Just think like an introvert, stay observant and let the shells come to you.
What are some good shelling beaches in Florida?
Some of my favorites shelling beaches in the Tampa Bay area include Caladesi Island State Park, Shell Key Preserve, Fort De Soto Park and St. Pete Beach.
In southwest Florida, Sanibel Island, Ten Thousands Islands and Keewaydin Island are prime shelling spots.
For more Florida outdoor adventures, check out our guides to incredible Florida adventures that go beyond the beach and summer adventure spots around Tampa Bay.
Where have you had the best luck with shelling in Florida? Let me know in the comments!
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I always wonder how some people score the best finds and I don’t. These are such great tips. I love the tiny perfect seashells. Next you have to show us how you use/showcase them!
Thank you! Friends always ask me for tips when I share photos of my finds so I thought a blog post would be helpful. We’re working on a seashell display in our backyard “mermaid garden.” I’ll be sure to share that as a future follow up post!
Really good tips! I used to spend hours and hoooours looking for pretty shells on the beaches of Ireland…but it looks like some of the Floria shells are so much more bright and gorgeous. What do you do with your shells once you have found the best ones?
p.s. I bet you’d be a fantasti fossil hunter too!
Thank you, Josy! I wish I had made time to look for shells when I visited Ireland a few years ago! I guess that’s a good excuse to go back! I love that every beach has different ones, even here in Florida, there’s a lot of shell diversity. I love to decorate around the house with shells and my daughter loves to make art with them. Right now, we’re working on a shell display in our backyard garden, which we have named the mermaid garden! My son has a few shark teeth fossils that we found in Venice, FL. Those are so fun to find. We need to do that again soon. Thanks for the reminder!
[…] sun set into the ocean. Another option is to search for seashells along the shore. Check out this guide to shelling, specifically written with introverts in […]